The St. Johns herald., 1887-11-03
Our Financial Condition.

next few weeks series of articles on the financial condition ofApache county, present and prospective. In our judgment, there is not a county in the Territory entitled to better credit, within proper limits, than Apache. Our infQrpation is, that other counties, with more linn ited resources and larger debts, have been able to perfect negotia- tions which have, up to date, failed us.
 It IS proper to state in the outset, that these articles are not written and published in any censcrious spirit. We do not propose to play the captivating role of fault-fnder, and, from the mountain-top of self conceit, proclaim what we could
 have done, and how those author ized by law to act, have failed in their duty, from indifference, neg ligence, or worse. No such motive
 prompts us, and no expression, or word, will intentionally be permit ted to find its way here, or hereaf- ter, from which any such conclu- sion can be tortured. We take
 pleasure in saying of 2ll of those
 in authority to whom this duty of selling our bonds is by law cntrust- ed, that We have no complaint to
 make of them-have all confidence in their willingness and capacity to
 manage the matter. The delay in their success is attributable solely to circumstances which they could not foresee, prevent or control.
 Our real object is to discuss the question publicly interest the read ing public in it, and, to the limit of our circulation, carry the news of our county's condition, resources, liabilities, past record as a payer of debts, increasing capacity to dis charge future obligations-thus aid- ing, so far as We may, ogr officers in accomplishing a result in which all citizens of the county are direct ly and indirectly interested.
 The name of our county is un- fortunate, so far as our credit goes, for the reason, that, in the mind of the average news paper reading cap italist in the east and other money centers, it is associated with the murders, thefts, raids, and general disreputableness which are indis- solubly connected with the tribe of Indians by the same name. The impression prevails in the east, not alone among the ignorant and un- but among business men of fair capacity, and a high order of intelligence, that the Apache In dians are located in the center of the county; that when it suits the Indian caprice, or condition of his liver, he takes a drink of tiswin and rides rough shed over the coun- try, leaving devastation and de to mark his trail. Such being the case, there can be noth- ing stable in the industrics-no cor tainty in planting and harvesting the crops-no regularity in the as- and collecting the taxes no permanent progresSlveness Tn the development of oEF resources no absolute safetyin the possession and enjoyment of property. The exact contrary is the truth. The Indians are remote from the farm ing and grazing districts-under perfect control-not permitted to leave their reservation-interfer- ence from them is neither tolerated pr feared-propertv is as safe as in St. Louis or San Francisco-taxes are as certain as death-our popu-. .ation is daily increasing, being aow about $500, and draYn from .he ranks of reputable, industrious men seeking homes in the west, and he American element largely pre- dominating. The few roughs and lesperadoes left by an earlier and ruder civilization are fast finding their resting places, as they are